Preparing for Benedict's Law
Get your school ready for Benedict's Law, from anaphylaxis training to guidance and helpful resources.
What is Benedict's Law?
Benedict's Law is a new national school allergy safety bill coming into force in schools across England, with ongoing campaigns to hopefully extend across the UK. The law was developed to improve allergy safety in schools, following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis in 2021. Named after Benedict, Benedict's Law passed in February 2026 and aims to teach staff to recognise and respond quickly to severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Benedict's Law will require schools to:
- Develop a clear allergy policy - how to respond to emergencies
- Ensure staff are trained - in recognising the signs with anaphylaxis training
- Provide access to emergency medication - like adrenaline auto-injector pens
- Improve communication and record keeping - to ensure allergies are tracked
These simple measures ensure schools are ready and prepared in case of an emergency anaphylaxis incident, and can make a life-saving difference.
Did you know?
* AllergyUK
** Allergies in School Teacher Survey
Why Benedict's Law training matters for your school
Severe allergic reactions can happen quickly, and without the right allergy training for schools, it can be difficult to know what to do. This can lead to critical situations.
With Benedict's Law, the new school allergy safety bill, schools will become better prepared, with the aims of:
- Faster recognition of symptoms
- Quicker and more confident responses
- Safer school environments for children with allergies
Preparation doesn't happen overnight, but getting ahead of the new school year with anaphylaxis training and Benedict's Law training will help you and school staff become trained where it matters most.
Our First Aid at Schools training courses
Benedict's Law (Anaphylaxis) eLearning
Anaphylaxis First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
Schools First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
Schools First Aid
Paediatric First Aid
Paediatric First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
Our First Aid at Schools training courses
Prepare your team for Benedict's Law with on-site or eLearning training
Find out moreBe ready for September 2026
Schools across the nation are already starting to prepare for Benedict's Law. As of September 2026, allergy safety is moving from best practise to a clear expectation. This includes allergy training for school staff, which plays a central role in keeping pupils safe. It doesn't stop at teachers either, Benedict's Law needs to be enforced and communicated with all school staff, whether that's lunchtime teams, administrative staff, caretakers and teaching assistants, or even minibus drivers and sports coaches.
Taking action now with anaphylaxis training or Benedict's Law training for staff, will give your school the time and space to prepare properly, without the pressure of last-minute changes or rushed training.
Why early preparation is key
- Avoid the September rush: September is one of the busiest times of year for schools and training providers. By booking your allergy training for schools in advance, like on INSET days, you'll be securing the right course and time that works for your staff.
- Make the most of INSET days: INSET days are one of the few opportunities to gather your school staff together without pupils. Making it the ideal environment for practical, hands-on training that brings confidence in your staff in case of an emergency. Whether it's learning how to recognise an allergic reaction, or how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector pen.
- Build staff confidence early: Confidence, and not just awareness, is key when staff need to act. Emergencies happen unexpectedly, and being able to act where every second counts with confidence can make a life-saving difference.
- Develop a clear and consistent process: Benedict's Law encourages a whole-school approach, where every member of staff understands their role and is prepared. By planning ahead and starting your Benedict's Law training now, you'll be able to establish clear emergency responses, align training with your allergy policy and ensure consistency across the entire school team.
What schools need to do to comply with Benedict's Law
Taking steps to prepare for Benedict's Law this September doesn't have to feel overwhelming, because direction is clear: take practical, proactive steps in improving allergy safety and emergency response.
This also doesn't only include teachers, but the entire school community, making sure they know how to act when a severe allergic reaction happens. Which is why the steps below will outline where to focus your efforts, helping you build a safer, more consistent approach towards Benedict's Law, ahead of September 2026:
1. Train your staff: not just first aiders. All staff should be able to:
- Recognise allergic reactions
- Respond quickly and effectively
- Be able to use adrenaline auto-injector pens
2. Review your school allergy policy: make sure your allergy action plan for school is:
- Up to date
- Clearly communicated
- Accessible to all staff
3. Prepare for real-life scenarios: in a real emergency, quick action and confidence matter. Therefore, all staff need to know:
- What signs to look for
- What to do
- How to act quickly
Benedict's Law represents an important shift in safety at schools. It's an opportunity to strengthen your school's approach to allergy safety, supporting your staff, and creating an environment where every pupil feels protected.
By taking appropriate action now, through training, developing clear processes and preparing for Benedict's Law, you'll be able to move forward with confidence knowing your team is ready to respond when it matters most.
Prepare today, so your school is ready for September 2026.
How St John Ambulance can support your school
St John Ambulance is the UK's leading first aid charity, where we've been helping communities respond to emergencies for over 140 years.
Our training is designed to be:
- Practical and hands-on
- Easy to understand
- Relevant to real-life environments
Our focus has always been the same: giving people the confidence and skills to act when it matters most. Which is why our first aid training is led by experts who deliver a hands-on approach that helps turn knowledge into action - making sure your team feels confident and prepared.
Questions about Benedict's Law
When does Benedict's Law come into force?
Benedict's Law is expected to come into effect from September 2026.
Do all school staff need training?
Yes, it's important that all staff should be able to recognise allergic reactions and be able to respond quickly and effectively.
Our schools first aid training and anaphylaxis training courses will teach you how to respond to allergic reactions.
What first aid training do schools need?
Schools should ensure their staff are trained in:
- Recognising allergic reactions
- Responding to anaphylaxis
- Using adrenaline auto-injector pens
It is also important that staff are first aid trained, so they're able to respond to any accidents that may occur at school.
Does Benedict's Law apply to nurseries?
Currently, it only applies to schools, and nurseries and other early years settings sit outside Benedict's Law.